Push button combination lock

ABSTRACT

A push button combination lock having wheels containing the combination mounted completely within a container and wherein buttons are provided for manipulating the wheels through the container wall. Depressing each button will rotate each wheel and when all of the wheels are aligned in the correct combination, the lock can be opened.

O United States Paten 1191 1111 3,808,852

Mohrhauser et al. 5] May 7, 1974 PUSH BUTTON COMBINATION LOCK 2,529,119 11/1950 Wallach et al 70/306 [76] Inventors: John P. Mohrhauser, 804 Prospect :2 710/156 go 0/133 5% Maplewood, 07040- 3,616,667 11 1971 McGourty.... 70/285 Richard W. Strazza, 3 T rn L, 3,633,388 1 1972 Atkinson 70/80 Princeton, NJ. 08540 I Primary Examiner-Albert G. Craig, Jr. [22] Flled' June 1972 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Roylance, Abrams, Berdo [21] App]. No.: 268,011 & Kaul 52 us. or 70/2 5, 70/313, 70/314 [57] {\BSTRACT 511 1111.01 E05b 37/02 A P button combmatlon 199k havmg wheels 9911- [58] Field ofSearch ..70/285, 313, 314 taining the combination mounted completely within a container and wherein buttons are provided for r113- 5 References Cited nipulating the wheels through the container wall. De- UNITED STATES PATENTS pressing each button will rotate each wheel and when 543 404 7/1895 t 70/306 all of the wheels are aligned in the correct combinao 1,771,080 7/1930 Fitzsimmons... the lock can be opened 1,898,241 2/ 1933 Carlson 12 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 9ATENTEDMAY 7 1914 SHEET 2 OF 4 I68 lllllllll PAYENTEDm 1 m4 SHEET 3 [IF 4 SHEET 0F 4 PUSH BUTTON COMBINATION LOCK This invention relates to combination locks and more particularly, it relates to a push botton combination lock of the type which houses the combination wheels completely out of view.

Combination locks having multiple wheels are well known in the art. The multiple wheels or cylinders are exposed to view and contain numbers or colors on their peripheries to provide the basis for the combination.

On dialing the various cylinders to the correct combination, the lock may be opened. However, the prior art locks of this type all expose their correct combination when they are not locked unless the cylinders are reset manually after the lock is opened. Often the person dialing the combination will forget the reset the wheels and thus anyone seeing the lock in its open position can discover the correct combination. These types of prior art locks which provide a visible cylinder or wheel also allow harmful dirt to enter the mechanism through the openings for viewing and manipulating the cylinders. In addition, the person dialing the correct combination must always have the cylinders in view to open the lock.

Locks of this type are used on luggage, lockers, safes, safety deposit boxes, trunks and doors. They are especially useful in any situation where the carrying of a key is not practicable or where the existence of a key will impair the security of the locked device.

Other prior art lock devices are known which are operated by pushing various buttons in certain sequences and which are run electrically. However, the use of electricity to operate a lock can be impractical due to the added weight of the electrical generating means and when the loss of the electrical power can render the lock inoperable;

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the limitations and drawbacks associated with the aforesaid prior art locks and to provide a new and improved push button combination lock.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a push button combination lock wherein the combination indicia are not exposed to view and need not be seen to open the lock.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a push button combination lock operable by a'key so that the lock may be opened without divulging the combination.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lock which is sealed against the introduction of harmful dirt into the mechanism.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a push button combination lock whose combination can be changed when the lock is opened and the correct combination set. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a push button combination lock which functions without an electrical input.

Other objects, advantages and salient features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring now to the drawings, which form a part of this original disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lock in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing the lock in its closed position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2, showing the lock in a locked position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the actuator plate when the correct combination has been set;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the actuator plate in its position when the lock is open;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the arm and the actuator plate;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the shaft, one clutch cylinder, and one operating wheel;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the lock in an open or unlocked position; and

FIG. 9 is a sequential schematic view showing how the actuator plate moves from its position in FIG. 4 to its position in FIG. 5.

The foregoing objects are obtained by utilizing a sealed container which houses the permutation mechanism and which has mounted through one wall, memv bers which can be depressed to in turn manipulate the permutation mechanism. A locking rod is connected to the permutation mechanism and is mounted for movement through one of the walls of the container. In the locked position the locking rod extends outward from the container and engages a slotted receiving member to provide the locking requirements. On pushing the members, which can be buttons, the correct number of times the permutation mechanism will be moved from a preset start position to the unlocked position and will allow the locking rod to be withdrawn from its extended position and thus open the lock. Each member or push button is associated with an operating or permutation wheel which is located inside of the container. Each depression of each push button will move the operating wheel and its associated cylinder through one increment of travel. When the buttons have been depressed and released an adequate number of times to move each wheel through the required incremental travel, the preset combination is reached and the locking rod can be withdrawn into the container and the lock will be opened. The withdrawal of the locking rod will trigger means to rotate the operating wheels back to their starting position.

Referring to the drawings in further detail, the device of the present invention is generally designated 20 as seen in FIG. 1.

The device consists generally of a container 40, a locking rod 60, and a locking rod receiver 80. Movement of the locking rod 60 into engagement with the locking rod-receiver will provide the locking functions. On depressing push buttons 48 a sufficient number of times to set the permutation mechanism to its correct combination, the locking rod 60 can be moved out of engagement with the locking rod receiver 80 and provide the unlocking function.

As seen in FIG. 1, the container 40 is rigidly connected to a first member 22 and the locking rod receiver 80 is rigidly connected to a second member 25. For example, the first member 22 could be a door and the secondmember 25 could be a door jamb. In any event, one of the members is ordinarily movable relative to the other member after the lock device 20 is opened.

The container 40 is formed from six rectangular planar walls rigidly connected to enclose a rectangularshaped housing. The container 40 has a front wall 41, a top wall 42, a bottom wall 43, a left side wall 44, a right side wall 45, and a rear wall 46 as seen in FIGS.

2 and 3.

The rear wall 46 is rigidly mounted to the member 22 by use of the projections 51 and a bolt 52 as seen in FIG. 2. Each projection 51 is rigidly connected to the rear wall 46, a perpendicular thereto and has a threaded aperture 55 therethrough receiving the bolt 52. The projections 51 fit into corresponding recesses in the member 22. Bolt 52 passes through a suitably formed hole in the member 22 and passes through the apertures 55 in the projections 51 as seen in FIG. 2. A similar type of rigid connection between the member 25 and the locking rod receiver 80 may be used as shown in FIG. 2 utilizing projections 53 and a bolt 54.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the front wall 41 of the container 40 has located therein three spaced circular apertures 47. Each of these apertures 47 has an associated push button 48. Although three apertures and push buttons are shown, the number can be varied as desired.

The top wall 42 has located therein two spaced circular apertures 50 which receive rods 53 whose use will be described hereinafter. I

The left. side wall 44 of the container 40 has at its lower edge a rectangular shaped slot 61 for receiving the end portion 63 of the locking rod 60. Similarly, the right side wall 45 contains a rectangular-shaped slot 62 for receiving the other end portion 64 of the locking rod 60. The right side wall 45 also contains a centrally located aperture 54.

As seen in FIG. 2, the locking rod receiver 80 is basically in the shape of a box. Located at the lower edge of the box isa slot 81 through its wall 82 for receiving the end portion 64 of the locking rod 60.

Mounted within the container 40 is a shaft 90 and an actuator plate 100. The shaft 90 as seen in FIG. 2 is an elongated cylindrical rod having an increased diameter end portion 91 with a length equal to about one-fifth the overall length of the shaft 90. The shaft 90 is rotatably mounted within the container by means of support plates 92 and 93. The increased diameter end portion 91 is mounted in a circular aperture 94 in the support plate 93. The other end of the shaft'90 is mounted in a circular aperture 95 in the support plate 92. Both of the support plates 92 and 93 are rigidly mounted between the rear wall 46 and the front wall 41. Each of the support plates is parallel to the other. The support plates 92 and 93 contain apertures 86 and 87, respectively, offset from the central apertures 94 and 95.

The opposite or smaller diameter end of the shaft 90 that passes through the central aperture 95 in the support plate 92 contains a transverse aperture with a cotter pin 98 therein. A washer 99 is interposed between the cotter pin 98 and the support plate 92.

Rotatably mounted on the shaft 90 are clutch cylinders 70, 71 and 72. The number of cylinders used should ordinarily correspond to the number of push buttons employed. Taking clutch cylinder 70 as an example, as shown in FIG. 7, such clutch cylinder is essentially a right cylinder having a central bore 110 therein for receiving the shaft 90. Each cylinder has a first portion and a second portion, each forming approximately one half of the axial length of the cylinder. The first portion is a right cylinder with a complete cylindrical outer surface 111. A series of spaced radial lugs 112 extend axially along the'entire length of the outer surface 111. Any desired number of lugs can be provided, ten being shown by way of example. The second portion is also essentially a right cylinder, but has an outer surface formed by the intersection of a cylindrical surface 113 and a planar surface or flat shoulder 114. The planar surface 114 is in the form of a chordal surface extending. across the cylindrical surface 113. The cylindrical surface 113 is coextensive with the cylindrical surface 111.

An operatingor permutation wheel is mounted on each clutch cylinder, and in the illustrated embodiment,.the wheels are designated 101, 102 and 103, and are mounted respectively upon clutch cylinders 70, 71 and 72. As shown in FIG. 7, the wheel 101 is a flat disc formed as a right cylinder having a length equal to the length of the first portion outer surface 111 of the clutch cylinder 70. The operating wheel 101 has a central bore 104 with interior indentations in the form of axial grooves 105 corresponding to the lugs 112 on the clutch cylinder and engageable therewith as seen in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 7. On the outer circumference of each wheel are radially spaced exterior indentations in the form of ratchet grooves 106 which separate the outer circumference into sections. The number of exterior indentations can be any desired, ten being shown by way of example. I

Integrally formed with or rigidly secured to one side of each operating wheel, coaxial with the central bore 104, is an annulus 140. The annulus 140 has interior axial grooves 141 corresponding to the interior axial grooves 105 in bore 104 and exterior lugs 142 which are engageable by the teeth 157 of the lug followers 153 as will be described hereinafter. The number of exterior lugs 142 equals the number of teeth 157 in the lug followers, ten being'shown by way of example.

As seen in FIG. 2, a compression spring 107 is mounted on the shaft 90 to bias the clutch cylinders 70, 71 and 72 toward the support plate 93 by reacting between the end of the cylinder and the inside of the support plate 92. l

Mounted in the container 40 between the shaft and the bottom wall 43 is the actuator plate as seen in FIGS. 3 and 6. The form of the actuator plate 100 is substantially rectangular and planar, and centrally located within the actuator plate 100 are three elongated slots 115, 116 and 117 through which pass an edge portion of the operating wheels 101, 102 and 103, respectively. Centrally located along one of the longer edges of each rectangularly shaped slot is an additional slot, such additional slots being designated 118, 119 and 120, and intended to receive a portion of each annulus 140 mounted on each operating wheel. The actuator plate 100 has elongated rods 121 and 122 extending from its sides at one end thereof for the purpose of pivotally mounting the actuator plate 100 in the container 40. The rod 122 has a circular stop 123 midway along its length and a circular stop 124 spaced slightly along the rod from stop 123. Between these two stops the rod 122 will lie in and be supported rotatably in aperture 86 in the support plate 92. The stops will prevent any lateral movement of rod 122. At the end of rod 122 is a further stop 125 which has a slot 126 in the end surface thereof to engage a key as will be explained hereinafter. Similarly, rod 121 has a stop 127 mounted thereon adjacent the support plate 93. The rod 121 passes through aperture 87 in support plate 93 and rotatably supports the actuator plate therein. The rod 121 continues beyond stop 127 and is attached to a rod 128 perpendicular thereto, the rod 128 having a plate 129 at its end as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 7. In the locked position, the plate 129 is interposed between the end of the shaft portion 91 and the central aperture 54in the right side wall 45 of the container, as shown in FIG. 2. When the correct combination is depressed the plate will move away from the aperture 54 and expose the end of the shaft portion 91. At one corner of the actuator plate 100, as seen in FIG. 6, there is an intergral extension 130, oblique to the plane of the actuator plate 100, forming a cam surface. The thickness of the extension is substantially the same as the actuator plate thickness.

The actuator plate 100 is spring biased towards the shaft 90 and into abuttment against the second portion of each clutch cylinder by a compression spring 131 which is rigidly connected in a suitable manner to the bottom wall 43 and to the actuator plate- 100 as seen in FIG. 3. Mounted in a suitable manner on the actuator plate 100 at one end of each slot 115, 116 and 117 are three spring fingers 132, preferably formed of spring steel. One end of each spring finger 132 is mounted rigidly to the actuator plate 100 as shown in FIG. 6. The other end of each spring finger 132 freely engages one of the indentations 106 of each operating wheel, as shown in FIG. 3. Each spring finger 132 is substantially planar over most of its length with one end portion being curved upwards as seen in FIG. 6.

As stated previously, the front wall 41 receives three push buttons 48. As seen in FIG. 3, each push button consists of an elongated rod 149 having a button 48 at the outer end thereof and a finger portion 150 at the enner end thereof. Centrally located between the push button 48 and the finger portion 150 is a stop 151 which is rigidly mounted to the elongated rod 149 and prevents the push button and its attached rod from being pulled from the container. Between the push button 48 and the front wall 41 is a compression spring 152. The finger portion 150 is engageable with the indentations 106 in the operating wheels. Each time the push button 48 is depressed against the action of the compression spring 152 the finger portion 150 will engage an appropriate indentation 106 and rotate the operating wheel one incremental movement which equals movement through an are equal to the radial distance between each indentation. After each depression the compression spring 152 will return the push button 49 to its extended position. The entire apparatus of the push button 48 is suitably mounted for longitudinal movement into and out of the container. Preferably,

. the diameter of the rod 149 is only very slightly smaller than the diameter of the aperture 47 to prevent dirt from entering the container. If desired, a suitable seal can be provided in the aperture 47 surrounding the rod to make certain that dirt or foreign materials cannot enter the container.

Mounted in a suitable manner within the container 40 are three lug followers 153, 154 and 155 formed generally as rack members. As seen in FIG. 3 and taking lug follower 153 as an example, each follower consists essentially of an elongated rod 156 having teeth 157 on its lower portion for engagement with the exterior lugs 142 formed on each annulus 140 which is mounted to each of the clutch cylinders 70, 71 and 72. Each lug follower is longitudinally movable and is spring biased away from the rear wall 46 and towards the front wall 41 by means of compression springs 168 mounted between one end of the rod 156 and the rear wall 46. Mounted to the front wall 41 is a stop 148 which is positioned so that the end of each rod 156 abuts thereagainst when it has fully returned to its forward position under the influence of the spring 168.

As previously indicated, a pair of spaced rods 53, 53 project downwardly through apertures in the top wall 42 of the container 40. These rods 53, as shown in FIG. 1, are connected by a bar 158 which is located on the outside of container 40. Compression springs 159 are interposed between the bar 158 and the top wall 42. The lower portion of each bar 53 is engageable with the top of the actuator plate 100 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

As seen in FIG. 2, the locking rod is mounted for longitudinal movement along the top or inside surface of the bottom wall 43 within the container 40. The locking rod 60 is essentially a rectangular rod having a length somewhat greater than the length of the bottom wall 43. Thus, the locking rod 60 end portions 63 and 64 extend beyond the wall 44 and wall 45 through slots 61 and 62, respectively as seen in FIG. 2. A handle is mounted to the locking rod 60 at the end portion 63. By grasping the handle 65, the locking rod can be manipulated to an open position when the correct combination is depressed and can be manipulated to a closed position when the lock is to be secured. Two L-shaped elongated supports 160 are mounted on the bottom wall 43 for supporting the locking rod 60 during its longitudinal movement. Mounted essentially midway along the length of the locking rod 60 is a slotted arm 161. The slotted arm 161 is perpendicular to the locking rod 60 and is rigidly fastened thereto by means of screws 162.,The arm 161 has a slot 163 located therein at a height above the bottom wall 43 substantially equal to the height of aperture 86 on the support plate 92 above the bottom wall 43. Located near the bottom of arm 161 is a second slot 164. Both slots face towards the axis of rods 121 and 122. The width of each slot is greater than the thickness of the extension 130. Both slots 163 and 164 are located on one edge 165 of the arm 161 as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 6. As shown, the edge 165 of the arm is curved or inclined somewhat at its inner end and the slot 163 is generally perpendicular to the edge 165. Thus, the slot 164 is disposed at a slight angle to the slot 163. This is to allow the cam extension 130 to be aligned with each slot respectively when the actuator plate 100 upon which the extension 130 is mounted is caused to rotate by means of the correct combination being pushed or the key being used to open the lock. As seen in FIG. 2, near one end of the locking rod 60 there is affixed thereto a perpendicular plate 166 which is adjacent to the side wall 45. Two rods 186 and 188, having enlarged heads 190 and 192 at one end, respectively, pass through two apertures 194 and 195 in the plate 166 and are rigidly connected As viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3, the device 20 is in the locking position with the locking rod 60 end portion 64 in engagement with the locking slot 81 of the locking rod receiver 80. To open the lock by means of the combination, the correct combination must be obtained through operation of the push buttons 48. This means that each button must be pushed a preselected number of times. In this locked position as shown in FIG. 3 the actuator plate 100 abuts the cylindrical surfaces 113 of the clutch cylinders and the cam extension 130 of the actuator plate 100 abuts the slotted arm 161 between slots 163 and 164 and prevents the locking rod 60 from being moved to the left as viewed in FIG. 2. The lug followers 153, 154 and 155 are in their start position and the clutch cylinders 70, 71 and 72 and the operating wheels 101, 102 and 103 are in their initially preset positions, as indicated in FIG. 3. The initially preset positions of the clutch cylinders'is determined by the position of the planar surface 114 on each of the cylinders relative to the open position. The open position is provided when the planar surfaces 114 are each parallel to and facing the bottom wall 43 as shown in FIG. 4. The initial presetposition then is any desired position of the planar surfaces 114 other than one parallel to and facing the bottom wall 43. The number of times the buttons must be depressed to move each planar surface 114 to the open position is the combination for each associated operating wheel. Each time the individual push buttons 48 are depressed the finger portions 150 will engage the exterior indentations 106 on the operating wheels and rotate the wheels through one incre' mental movement. As an operating wheel is rotated, its associated clutch cylinder will also be rotated due'to the fact that the lugs 112 on the cylinder engage the axial grooves 105 on the wheel. The rotation of the operating wheels will also cause each annulus 140 to rotate and cause the lug followers 153 to move towards the rear'of the container 40 towards wall 46 which will compress the springs 168. A counter-rotation of the operating wheels under the influence of the spring loaded lug followers will be prevented by the engagement of the wheels by the springs 132 mounted on the actuator plate 100.

The correct combination, as previously stated, is coordinated with the planar surfaces 114 on each clutch cylinder such that when the correct combination is depressed the planar surfaces 114 will become parallel to and face the plane of the bottom wall 43. Thus, if the correct combination for the three button system shown in the drawings is 6-3-2, the first button is pushed and released six times, the second button is pushed and released three times, and the third button is pushed and released twice. By virtue of this operation, the first operating wheel 101 and its associated clutch cylinder will move through six incremental rotational steps and the lug followers associated therewith will be moved six steps or six teeth inwardly toward the wall 46. Similarly, the second operating wheel 102 and its associated parts will have moved three incremental steps and the third operating wheel 103 and its associated parts will have moved two incremental steps. At this point, all of the planar surfaces will be aligned in a common plane parallel to and facing the bottom wall 43 as shown in FIG. 4. This will allow the actuator plate 100 to be biased upwards under the influence of spring 131 to a position as indicated in FIG. 4. This position will provide an alignment between the extension 130 and allow the locking rod 60 to be grasped by the handle and moved to the left as viewed in FIG. 2 to a position as viewed in FIG. 8. This movement will allow the end portion 64 of the locking rod 60 to become disengaged from the slot 81 and hence open the lock. Also, the locking rod 60 is moved to open the lock, the walls of the slot 163 slide along the extension 130 on the actuator plate 100. Due to the fact that the extension 130 is obliquely oriented to the planar surface of the actuator plate 100, a camming action will occur as such sliding takes place. This camming action will cause the actuator plate 100 to pivot downwards as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 shows in detail the camming action of the slot 163 on the actuator plate as it moves across extension 130. The slot 163 is located in the arm 161, and moves in a straight line as indicated in FIG. 9 by the imaginary line 207. This movement is in a straight line because the arm 161 is rigidly connected to the locking rod 60 which in turn slides along the container 40 bottom wall 43 guided by the L-shaped rods 160. In FIG. 9A the relationship of the slot 163 and the extension 130 is the same as shown in FIG. 4. As shown therein, the correct combination has been depressed and the slot 163 and the extension 130 become aligned due to the reduced diameter provided by the planar surfaces 114 which are now abutted by the actuator plate 100. In FIG. 9B the arm 161 is moving to the left due to the movement of the locking rod 60 as it is pulled by the handle 65. Because the camming extension 130 is oblique to the slot 163 and the planar surface of the actuator plate 100, the extension 130 and thus the actuator plate 100 will be forced downwardly as shown in FIG. 9B. This downward movement is complete as seen in FIGS. 5 and 9C when the extension 130 has reached the end of the slot 163. Since the end of the actuator plate 100 opposite the extension 130 is pivotably mounted to the support plates 92 and 93 by the rods 121 and 122, the downward movement as shown in FIG. 9 results in a pivoting of the actuator plate 100 away from the shaft and towards the bottom wall 43. This pivoting movement will cause the spring fingers 132, which engage the operating .wheels in the exterior indentations 106, to move with the actuator plate and out of engagement with the operating wheels. The enlarged heads 190, 192 at the ends of the rods 186 and 188 will prevent'the locking rod 60 from being moved completely out of the container 40 by engaging the plate 166. This willalso prevent the slot 163 from coming completely off the extension 130.

In this position the lock will have been opened because the end portion 64 of the locking rod 60 in engagement with the slot 81 will have been moved out of such engagement. Also the spring fingers 132 located on the actuator plate will have moved out of the engagement with the exterior indentations 106 on the operating wheel due to the rotation of the actuator plate 100. Until this time, the spring fingers 132, as was stated previously, have been preventing counterrotational movement of each of the operating wheels under the action of the lug followers 153, and the lug followers spring 168. However, when the fingers 132 free the wheels, then such wheels will move in a mum ter-clockwise rotation, as viewed in FIG. 3, under the influence of the lug followers 153 which are returning from their FIG. 4 position to their FIG. 3 position under the biasing forces exerted by the springs 168. This 9 counter-rotation of the operating wheels will continue until the indicator wheels are returned to their initial or start position. The movement of the lug followers 153 will be halted at the start position by the engagement of the rods 156 against the stops 148. This open position is shown in FIG. 8.

To close the lock after it has been opened by depressing the correct combination, all that is requiredis to push the handle 65 on the end portion 63 of the locking rod 60 towards the right as viewed in FIG. 8. Since extension 130 is in the position shown in FIGS. and 9C, then movement of the handle 65 to the right moves slot 163 on arm 161 along extension 130 as the actuator plate 100 bends slightly. Once slot 163 is moved to the right past extension 130, the actuator plate 100 pivots downwardly under the influence of spring 131 out of alignment with slot 163 to a position shown in FIG. 3 where the extension 130 prevents the arm 161, and thus rod 60, from being moved to the left to re-open the lock.

If while depressing the buttons to obtain the correct combination on the operating wheels, the person operating the lock miscounts or loses count, then the bar 158 can be depressed. This depression will cause the elongated rods 53 to engage the actuator plate 100 and move it and the integral extension 130 thereon downwards toward the bottom wall 43. This will not allow the lock to open; however, this will allow the spring fingers 132 mounted on the actuator plate 100 to become disengaged from the operating wheels and all the lug followers 153 toreturn the operating wheels via their connection to the annulus 140 to the start position to allow the person attempting to open the lock through the use of the combination to try again.

In the described embodiment, the number of exterior indentations on each operating wheel is l0. If the operator of the lock attempts to depress the button for any of the associated operating wheels greater than 10 times, the operating wheel will not rotate any further. The lock mechanism is constructed so that one full rotation of 360 of each operating wheel (i.e., l0 depressions of the associated button) will move the associated lug follower from its start position, as shown in FIG. 3 having one end adjacent stop 148, to a second position, as shown in FIG. 4 having its other end abutting the fully compressed spring 168 which abuts the rear wall 46. This is accomplished bymaking the distance between the stop 148 and the rear wall 46 equal to two times the length of the rod 156 plus the length of the fully compressed spring 168 and by having the number of exterior lugs on the annulus, the number of exterior indentations on the operating wheels, and the number of teeth on the lug followers equal. In the second position the lug follower can move no further since it abuts the fully compressed spring 168 which abuts the rear wall. Since the lug follower is connected'to the operating wheel via its toothed engagement with each annulus, the operating wheel cannot be rotated any further. Thus if a full rotation of any of the operating wheels is made by depressing the associated button ten times and the lock is not at the opening position, the operating wheel is not able to be rotated further. The operator of the lock can then depress the bar 158 as discussed above and cause all of the operating wheels and lug followers to be returned to the start position. The operator of the lock can then try the combination again.

The lock can also be opened through the use of an auxiliary lock 171. As viewed in FIG. 2, the key 172 is placed into the lock 171 and will engage, through an extension 173 on the key 172, the slot 126 in the stop 125. A rotation of the key will cause a rotation of the actuator plate 100. Movement of the actuator plate 100 down to a position in alignment with slot 164 on the arm 161 (as shown in phantom in FIG. 3) will allow the locking rod to be moved to open the lock.

To close the lock after it has been opened by using the key, again all that is required is to push handle on the end portion 63 of the locking rod 60 towards the right as viewed in FIG. 8. Since the extension 130 is engaged in slot 164 in a position similar to the position of extension 130 relative to slot 163 in FIG. 9C, pushing the handle 65 towards the right as viewed in FIG. 8 causes slot 164 to move along extension 130. When the slot is past the extension, the actuator plate 100 moves under the influence of spring 131 out of alignment with slot 164 to a position shown in FIG. 3. In this position extension 130 prevents the arm 161, and thus rod 60, from being moved to the left to re-open the lock.

Initially, when the lock is first delivered for installation the planar surfaces 114 are all aligned parallel to and facing the bottom wall in the open position. Thus, the locking rod 60 can be moved without the depression of any buttons. In this initial position, designated 000, the actuator plate 100 lies abutting the planar surfaces 114 as shown in FIG. 4 and the lug followers 153 are in the rest position shown in FIG. 3. Because the actuator plate 100 is in this position, i.e., rotated upwardly, the plate 129 mounted to the actuator plate will have rotated upwardly with the actuator plate and will not be in a blocking position adjacent aperture 54. Thus, a suitable means, such as a screw driver, can at this time be manipulated through aperture 54 to depress the shaft towards the left as viewed in FIG. 2. The depression of the shaft 90 will cause the enlarged diameter end portion 91 to engage the end of the clutch cylinder 72. The movement of the shaft 90 towards the left as seen in FIG. 2 will compress the three clutch cylinders against the spring 107. Because the operating wheels 101, 102, and 103 are partially received by the slots 118, 119, and 120 in the actuator plate they will remain in position. The shaft is depressed for a distance sufficient for the lugs 112 to no longer be engaged by the axial grooves 105 in the operating wheels or the axial grooves 141 in the annulus 140. At this time, the combination can be set for each of the operating wheels by depressing them any desired number of times.

Each depression will rotate the operating wheel through one increment and cause the lug follwer 153 which is engaged with the lugs 141 on each annulus to be moved one increment towards the rear wall 46 compressing the springs 168. Because the actuator plate 100 is in the position as shown in FIG. 4, the springs 132 thereon will be in engagement with the exterior indentations 106 and thus prevent a counter rotation of the operating wheels under the influence of the springs 168. The number of times each button is depressed is the combination. After the desired combination has been set, the shaft 90 is released from its depressed position and the clutch cylinders are reengaged with the operating wheels by means of the connection between lugs 112 and the axial grooves 105 and 141-. The bar 158 is then depressed causing rods 53 to engage the actuator plate 100 and move it downwards and awayfrom the clutch cylinders. This will cause springs 132 on the actuator plate to release the operating wheels and allow the lug followers to rotate the operating wheels until the lug follower rods 156 abut the stops 148. The operating wheels are then in the starting position and a combination has been set.

To change the combination, the planar surfaces 114 and the lug followers 153 must be returned to the -0-0 position in which a new lock is delivered. This can be accomplished by first depressing the correct combination, pulling the handle 65 to open the lock, and moving the container 40 away from the locking rod receiver 80. This will provide a clear access to the aperture 54. The handle 65 is then pushed back to the locked position. Then the correct combination is depressed again which allows the actuator plate to move up against the now parallel planar surfaces 114, the springs 132 to engage the operating wheels, and the plate 129 to move from the blocking position adjacent the aperture 54. The shaft 90 is then depressed to disengage the clutch cylinders from the operating wheels. The buttons 48 are then depressed and released until the lug followers 53 have been moved through their maximum travel towards the rear wall 46 to an abutting position against the fully compressed springs 168 abutting that wall. The shaft 90 is then released from its depressed position and the clutch cylinders reengage the operating wheels. The bar 158 is depressed and causes the actuator plate to move downwards, away from the clutch cylinders, thus freeing the engagement of the springs 132 with the operating wheels. This will allow the lug followers to rotate the operating wheels, and thus the reengaged clutch cylinders back to the 0-0-0 position because the number of teeth in each lug follower isequal to the number of lugs on each annulus mounted to each operating wheel. in the 000 position the planar surfaces are in the open position and the lug follwers are adjacent the stops 148. A new combination can then be selected and established as described previously.

While one advantageous embodiment has been chosen to illustrate the invention'it will be understood by those skilled inthe art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. We claim: I. In a combination lock, the improvement which comprises:

members which can be manipulated from a preset initial position to a predetermined combination position; a mounting means for mounting said members so tha they are hidden from view; rod means movable relative to said mounting means between a locked position and an unlocked position; manipulation means associated with said mounting means for permitting manipulation of said members; and means operable when said members have been manipulated to said predetermined combination position to thereby move said rod means to said unlocked position and to simultaneously move said members back to the preset initial position.

2. The improvement according to claim 1 wherein said means includes a first means for moving said rod means, and

a second means for moving said members back to the preset initial position.

3. The improvement according to claim 2 wherein said second means includes rack members engageable with toothed portions of said members.

4. The improvement according to claim 3, and further including a rotatably mounted actuator plate,

spring fingers mounted on said actuator plate for engaging said members, and

means for rotating said actuator plate on manipulating said members to the predetermined combination position to disengage said spring fingers from said members.

5. The improvement according to claim4 wherein said means for rotating said actuator plate includes a cam means mounted on said actuator plate, and

a cam follower mounted on said rod means wherein said first means moves said cam follower along said cam means.

6. The improvement according to claim 5 wherein said first means includes handle means mounted on said rod means at one end thereof, and

wherein said cam means and said cam follower are aligned by manipulating said members to said predetennined combination position.

7. The improvement according to claim 3 wherein said mounting means for said members includes a housing, and

a shaft rotatably mounted in said housing,

wherein said second means further includes means for biasing said actuator plate towards said shaft.

8. The improvement according to claim 1, and further including reset means for returning said members to the preset initial position when a mistake is made in manipulation of said members.

9. The improvement according to claim 7 wherein said actuator plate includes a plate movable to allow the shaft to be manipulated for changing the predetermined cornbinationto another predetermined combination.

10. The improvement according to claim 7 wherein said manipulation means includes push button means.

11. A combination lock comprising a a container with at least one aperture located in on wall thereof;

push button means mounted .for movement throughsaid at least one aperture;

a shaft rotatably mounted within said container;

clutch cylinder means rotatably mounted on said shaft;

operating wheel means mounted on said clutch cylinder means for manipulation from a preset initial position to a predetermined combination by said push button means;

an actuator plate mounted in said container and spring biased into engagement with said clutch cylinder means and said operating wheel means, said actuator plate having slot means therein for receivment with said operating whee] means and said clutch cylinder means and for moving said operating wheel means and said clutch cylinder means from the predetermined combination back to the preset initial position on opening of the lock. 12. A combination lock according to claim 11 and further including means for opening the lock by use of a key. 

1. In a combination lock, the improvement which comprises: members which can be manipulated from a preset initial position to a predetermined combination position; mounting means for mounting said members so that they are hidden from view; rod means movable relative to said mounting means between a locked position and an unlocked position; manipulation means associated with said mounting means for permitting manipulation of said members; and means operable when said members have been manipulated to said predetermined combination position to thereby move said rod means to said unlocked position and to simultaneously move said members back to the preset initial position.
 2. The improvement according to claim 1 wherein said means includes a first means for moving said rod means, and a second means for moving said members back to the preset initial position.
 3. The improvement according to claim 2 wherein said second means includes rack members engageable with toothed portions of said members.
 4. The improvement according to claim 3, and further including a rotatably mounted actuator plate, spring fingers mounted on said actuator plate for engaging said members, and means for rotating said actuator plate on manipulating said members to the predetermined combination position to disengage said spring fingers from said members.
 5. The improvement according to claim 4 wherein said means for rotating said actuator plate includes a cam means mounted on said actuator plate, and a cam follower mounted on said rod means wherein said first means moves said cam follower along said cam means.
 6. The improvement accordiNg to claim 5 wherein said first means includes handle means mounted on said rod means at one end thereof, and wherein said cam means and said cam follower are aligned by manipulating said members to said predetermined combination position.
 7. The improvement according to claim 3 wherein said mounting means for said members includes a housing, and a shaft rotatably mounted in said housing, wherein said second means further includes means for biasing said actuator plate towards said shaft.
 8. The improvement according to claim 1, and further including reset means for returning said members to the preset initial position when a mistake is made in manipulation of said members.
 9. The improvement according to claim 7 wherein said actuator plate includes a plate movable to allow the shaft to be manipulated for changing the predetermined combination to another predetermined combination.
 10. The improvement according to claim 7 wherein said manipulation means includes push button means.
 11. A combination lock comprising a container with at least one aperture located in one wall thereof; push button means mounted for movement through said at least one aperture; a shaft rotatably mounted within said container; clutch cylinder means rotatably mounted on said shaft; operating wheel means mounted on said clutch cylinder means for manipulation from a preset initial position to a predetermined combination by said push button means; an actuator plate mounted in said container and spring biased into engagement with said clutch cylinder means and said operating wheel means, said actuator plate having slot means therein for receiving at least a portion of said operating wheel means; a locking rod movable along said container to open and close the lock; means for moving said locking rod after said operating wheel means and said clutch cylinder means have been manipulated to the predetermined combination by manipulating said push button means; and means for moving said actuator plate out of engagement with said operating wheel means and said clutch cylinder means and for moving said operating wheel means and said clutch cylinder means from the predetermined combination back to the preset initial position on opening of the lock.
 12. A combination lock according to claim 11 and further including means for opening the lock by use of a key. 